No Harm to Child IQ With Epilepsy Rx Use in Breastfeeding Moms

(HealthDay News) — At 6 years of age, no adverse effects on IQ can be seen from antiepileptic drug (AED) exposure via breast milk, according to a study published June 16 in JAMA Pediatrics.

Kimford J. Meador, MD, from Stanford University in California, and colleagues conducted a multicenter study of the long-term neurodevelopmental effects on children of in utero exposure to AED monotherapy (carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenytoin, or valproate). Children (n=181) were assessed, and IQ and breastfeeding data were analyzed at six years of age.

The researchers found that 42.9% of children were breastfed a mean of 7.2 months. At 6 years of age, IQ was related to drug group (P<.001 with adjusted IQ worse for valproate compared to other drugs), drug dosage (P=.01 with higher dosage worse), maternal IQ (P=.01 with higher child IQ tied to higher maternal IQ), periconception folate use (adjusted IQ higher for folate, P=.005), and breastfeeding (adjusted IQ higher for breastfeeding, P=.045).

"No adverse effects of AED exposure via breast milk were observed at age 6 years, consistent with another recent study at age 3 years. In our study, breastfed children exhibited higher IQ and enhanced verbal abilities," the authors write. "Additional studies are needed to fully delineate the effects of all AEDs."